GDG- NPS & slavery

[Jack Lawrence]

Well,

You know, when there are slave quarters behind the Lee mansion in Arligton 
and the two slain Kennedy brotheres (both strong civil rights advocates) are 
buried there, I do not see your issue.

Regards,

Jack

My favorite historical site at Arlington is in the back. The Confederate 
memorial (the one that the SCV claims shows armed slaves fighting for the 
south but really does not) is in the back with the Confederate graves. right 
outside the gravel maintenance parking lot. And behind the USCT burial 
sites.

Seems kind of appropriate.

HOOK.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: <CWMHTours at aol.com>
To: <gettysburg at arthes.com>
Sent: Monday, January 02, 2012 4:45 PM
Subject: GDG- NPS & slavery


> Esteemed GDG Member Contributes:
> RE:  The emphasize on slavery and emancipation at  battlefields sites it 
> is
> not just the battlefields.
>
> In 1992 I began as a tourguide working as a narrator on the  Tourmobile
> Trams in Wash, DC.  There was, to me anyway, a rather bizarre 
> over-emphasis on
> slavery on the tours.
>
> In particular Arlington Cemetery demanded that in our "script"  that we
> make "X" number of references to slavery and  African-Americans.
>
> Tourmobile was a contracted service vendor to the NPS which  dictated the
> content of T's tours.
>
> I really have no objection at all to making such  references.  But
> currently Afro-African Americans are 10%-15% of the  population and they 
> deserve
> appropriate attention.
>
> But if you ask me I think the proportion was way out of whack  when it 
> came
> to the issue.
>
> And most citizens know almost nothing of the history of the  cemetery and
> the plantation.
>
> I am convinced IMO that there was less emphasis on George  Washington, for
> example, and his descendents there that there should have  been while 
> slave
> and African-Americans were over-emphasized.
>
> There were plenty of other things there that could have been  mentioned.
> Had not slavery and A-A's been emphasized I think all things  considered 
> much
> more important stuff was omitted while we talked about slavery  and A-A's.
> Take the issue of race out of it and they were topics far less  important
> than other things.
>
> I can't imagine how many people visit Arl Cem for a dose of  slave history
> but it must be practically none.
>
> Where the motivation for this emphasis comes from I don't  know.  But then
> again I have learned to be no admirer of the  NPS.
>
> I have never been in the VC at Gtysbg.  I have heard  about the emphasis 
> on
> slavery in there and have avoided the place.
>
> Who in their right mind comes to Gettysburg to learn about  slavery?
>
> Your  Most Obedient Servant,
> Peter
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